Quote Originally Posted by wayward
I believe that even NPK ratio ferts are better because they can be left alone for the life of the plant. I suspect that plants take up what they need when they need it.
I believe, I suspect... okay. Horticulture isn't subjective.
As a matter of fact, you ARE correct that plants take up what they need, when they need it. And they leave behind what they don't use. It sits there salting up the soil and interacting with other fertilizer and soil components, and will need to be flushed out. Give them what they need, when they need it, in the correct ratios.
Quote Originally Posted by wayward
Do you honestly think there's as dramatic of a difference between ferts as there would be between bike and tractor tires?
Actually, no. I believe the difference is worse, because your bike won't run with tractor tires, and give you the opportunity to crash. You can crash with crap fertilizer before you even knew that what you were doing was wrong.